Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
13-9 (6-3WAC)
Nevada
12-11 (6-4WAC)
Bulldogs Outshoot Nevada 86-81 in Reno
2/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 8, 2007
Reno, Nev. - Led by Chantella Perera's 23 points, Fresno State finished up on the winning end of a great Reno shootout 86-81. Limiting turnovers and scoring in transition, the Bulldogs held off a hot-shooting Nevada club that shot 54.2% on the night, their highest percentage on the year. However, the Bulldogs also shot well, hitting 47% of their shots and had three players in double figures, with Tierre Wilson and Andrea Roberson pouring in 15 and 14 respectively.
Both teams were looking to play fast, and the tempo was set quickly in the matchup. Over the first five minutes of playthe Bulldogs moved out to slim lead at 12-9, but Nevada answered back with four straight baskets from Traci Graham, who matched Perera's total with 23 points on the night. The Wolf pack responded from Graham's hot shooting, and opened up a 22-17 lead after a layup from Marissa Hammond. Fresno State held fast however, regaining the lead at 25-24 following a three-point play by Erica Henry and two Perera free throws. From that point, neither team was able to gain a solid advantage until Graham hit a three for the Wolf Pack right before the end of the half, which paired with two Dellena Criner free throws gave Nevada a 40-36 halftime advantage, as the Wolfpack shot 16-28 (57%) in the first half.
Fresno State caught up quickly in the second half, as neither team slowed the pace of the game at all. Roberson took the lead for the Bulldogs early, hitting a layup to tie the game at 46 and a big three to put the 'Dogs back on top at 49-46. From that point, the lead would change hands multiple times, with the Wolf Pack moving out to a 60-58 advantage before an 8-2 run by the Bulldogs helped Fresno State to seemingly gain control at 6. However, Nevada once again charged back and tied the game, taking a one point lead at 73-72 following a Criner three.
Chantella Perera came back and answered for the Bulldogs, hitting an NBA-range three point shot beyond the top of the key to give Fresno State back the lead, and a second Perera basket after a Criner miss on two free throws at the opposite end gave the Bulldogs a 3-point edge. From there, the teams traded shots until the Bulldogs recovered a rare miss from Nevada and Tierre Wilson hit one of two shots at the line to increase their lead to 82-78. Traci Graham hit a three to pull back the lead to one with 28 seconds remaining, but Paige Diggs closed the door by hitting four straight free throws to end the Wolf Pack's night.
Fresno State finished the game with over 80 points for just the third time this season, with the Bulldogs coming out on the top end in all three of those contests. The 86 points was the highest total for the Bulldogs this season, helped considerably by not wasting chances on the floor, giving up just 13 turnovers as well as making the most of their trips to the line, where the team was 21-26 on the night.
The Bulldogs continue their road trip with a game Saturday against New Mexico State. The team will finally make their return home to the Save Mart Center on Feb. 17, when Fresno State hosts Boise State at 1 p.m.
